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How do I help care for a type 2 diabetic?

D

deebee59

Member
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Hi... I am looking for any pointers on how to help care for a type 2 Diabetic.
They have been diabetic for at least 8 years now... And are what I term as a bad diabetic in that they will do nothing to help themselves. They were on Glicizide, but are now on Glicizide and metehulin I think it is, and claim that there is an inevitable progression to type 1.?? Is this true.?
When a review is due they behave diet wise in the run up, then after revert to their bad ways.
My own father was Type 1 insulin dependent. A bad accident followed by a coma brought on his diabetes, and he sadly died aged 36 when his vital organs began to shut down. He was a good diabetic, did everything by the book.
The person I care for now seems unwilling to help himself... And simply believes he will be dead in 5 years. He has even started smoking again!! Even though his chest is really bad.
I am at my wits end.. I cannot say any thing or am nagging and he just goes out of his way to be worse.
It's taking its toll on me now, I really want to give up and walk away... Because I cannot sit back and eat h him kill himself... Would appreciate any help at all...
 
personally i think this person may just be depressed by the fact they have diabetes and is now so stuck in his ways he finds this normal.But it sounds as though you really care about this person so makes sure you remind them that you do and that they are clearly hurting you mentally as much as he is hurting himself phyically.You need to motivate them and give him hope that he still has time to change before high blood sugars take their toll.My dad was exactly the same and has ended up blind with a kidney transplant which has made him even more unhappy to be perfectly honest.He is going to regret every second of his life that he hasn't done anything to change.
 
Hi. I sympathise with your concern. The tablets would be Gliclazide and Metformin. He will only progress fully to having serious body damage if he continues to ignore his blood sugar levels resulting from bad diet. He won't progress to Type 1 as he may continue to produce insulin. Are you able to influence his diet knowingly or not? Has he got a meter If not perhaps he will respond to high blood sugar readings? I don't know how old this person is, but he won't be dead thru diabetes unless he has seriously high blood sugar for years so he needs to be convinced that it can be managed and then the damage shouldn't occur. Good luck.
 
It's a common, but false belief that T2 progresses to T1 and It's not inevitable that it progresses at all
Hana
 
Hi. Probably worth saying that 80% of T2s are insulin resistant and they have a good performing pancreas producing insulin until eventually the pancreas is affected if the diet isn't modified and/or no exercise. Insulin may possibly be needed in the very long-term and then the confusion with T1. The remaining T2s have a failing pancreas for various reasons, no insulin resistance, and hence will progress to insulin as they lack it. These could be classed as a late onset T1 as the reason for needing insulin is due to a failed pancreas which is the same condition as an early T1. The causes and timing vary but the death of islet cells is one common factor.
 
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